1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team


The 1993 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 11–1 with a win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Season summary

The 1993 season opened with tempered expectations for the Irish following the loss of four first-round NFL draft picks, among them quarterback Rick Mirer and running back Jerome Bettis. Notre Dame entered the year ranked seventh in the AP preseason poll.
The team also suffered a major setback when Ron Powlus, a highly touted freshman quarterback and the nation's top high school recruit, was lost to injury during the final preseason intrasquad scrimmage. “There was a strong chance he would be No. 1,” Holtz said, but with Powlus sidelined, he named Kevin McDougal the starter for Notre Dame's 1993 season opener.
On November 13, Notre Dame played Florida State in a [1993 1993 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State vs. Notre Dame football game|matchup of unbeatens], with the two ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP poll. The Irish won the game, 31–24, to put themselves in position to lock up a chance to play for the national championship with a win over Boston College in their final game. However, the Eagles kicked a field goal as time expired to secure the upset, winning 41–39. Although both the Irish and the Seminoles had one loss, and Notre Dame won the head‑to‑head meeting, it was Florida State that was selected to face Big 8 champion Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The Irish would settle for a Cotton Bowl bid, where they defeated Texas A&M.

Game summaries

Michigan State

Source:

Florida State

The #2 Fighting Irish prevailed over the #1 Florida State Seminoles as ESPN's College GameDay made its first campus visit.

Awards and honors

Team players in the NFL

Bryant YoungDefensive tackle17San Francisco 49ers
Aaron TaylorTackle116Green Bay Packers
Jeff BurrisCornerback127Buffalo Bills
Tim RuddyCenter265Miami Dolphins
Jim FlaniganDefensive tackle374Chicago Bears
Willie ClarkCornerback382San Diego Chargers
Lake DawsonWide Receiver392Kansas City Chiefs
John CovingtonSafety5133Indianapolis Colts
Tony PetersonLinebacker5153San Francisco 49ers
Pete BercichLinebacker7211Minnesota Vikings